Scott Willis

Host, Reporter, Producer

Scott Willis

I’ve always been enamored with the intimacy of radio. It’s so personal. It forces you to listen…and listen only. No visual distractions. I grew up listening to mostly top 40 radio in Detroit, with no shortage of entertaining DJ’s. As a teenager, I discovered the area’s all news station. I loved knowing what was going on, and the intensity with which they told stories. I often wondered what it would be like to be the first to know what was happening, and then tell others. Maybe that’s why I pursued a career in news.

I would go on to serve as an intern at that all-news station, and it was amazing and maybe a little overwhelming to see what it took to put out a constant stream of news. But something was missing. It wasn’t until after I graduated from college that I actually discovered Detroit’s public radio station at my alma mater. What a difference! You had time to write and tell engaging, meaningful stories, to be creative, all without the pressure to constantly crank out the news. Quality over quantity. That’s when I knew public radio was for me. I was hooked.

I would hone my skills on and off for almost three years at WDET as an intern under the tutelage of a patient Assistant News Director. I produced daily stories for newscasts, but also was given the privilege of producing long-form features on topics that interested me, and that people knew very little about. Now THAT was cool. Right up my alley. What budding reporter could ask for more?

I landed here in Syracuse in June 2001. Today, I’ve come full circle, and now teach the craft to more than a dozen student reporters per week. We work hard to choose informative stories, find the most engaging sound, and edit copy for clarity and accuracy.

Outside of work, I spend time with my wife and little boy. We like to take walks, travel, and read. When I can, I’ll hop on my bike for a quick ride.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the honor and privilege of bringing WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners the news of the day during All Things Considered. Thanks for listening.

Ways to Connect

Central New Yorkers will be among 2.4 million residents statewide who can start enrolling for some form of financial help as parts of the Affordable Healthcare Act kick in. Beginning October 1, 2013 individuals are able to enroll and secure financial benefits, which begin at the start of 2014.

Ron Pollack, with Families USA, says most will be eligible for financial help:

Local business leadership organization, Centerstate CEO, wants the community to work together and ask more questions before settling on a solution for the new I-81 viaduct through Syracuse. Centerstate C-E-O is laying out principles and priorities for the one-billion dollar decision that will impact the area for the next 75 years or more.

The Onondaga County Republican Party conceded it won’t have a candidate for Syracuse Mayor in November. Chairman Tom Dadey called a press conference to end speculation whether or not a candidate would emerge. Dadey compared politics to baseball, and promises there will always be another season of politics.

Pat Hogan has decided to end his run for Syracuse Mayor. The move comes less than a week after he took second place in a three-way democratic primary against incumbent Stephanie Miner and Alfonso Davis.

Hogan's decision also means he won't be running on the Republican ticket. Here's the statement he released today:

On Thursday morning, the Syracuse University Board of Trustees announced that the search for Syracuse University's 12th Chancellor and President had come to a close. Kent Syverud is currently Dean of the School of Law at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri.

In a Q & A session with reporters, Syverud thanked members of the community and spoke about how excited he was to be returning to the Syracuse area for his new role.

Until now, the focus of the Syracuse mayoral race has been on the political posturing of Democrats and Republicans.

That changed Wednesday when Green Party candidate Kevin Bott launched his campaign for mayor with promises to bring collaborative, democratic leadership to city hall. In his remarks on the steps of city hall, Bott seemed to be making a not-so-subtle jab at incumbent Mayor Miner and democratic challenger Pat Hogan, who took second place in the primary.

Construction on the Upstate Cancer Research Center at University Hospital in Syracuse is rapidly taking shape.

The center will have a variety of medical services in a centralized location. Many services are already being offered, like a specialized psychologist, who works to help the emotional and psychological needs that cancer patients and families deal with, and an integrated medicine specialist, who advises patients on non-traditional therapies they may wish to add to their traditional treatment methods.

President Obama continued his bus tour of Upstate New York today after spending the night in Auburn. He spent the morning working out at the YMCA and shooting a few hoops with a youth basketball group before hitting the road for SUNY Binghamton.